1. Casino Gambling Age In West Virginia
2. Legal Gambling Age In West Virginia
3. What Is Gambling Age In West Virginia

Introduction to West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

West Virginia Gambling License. Any casino interested in releasing an online casino site or app in West Virginia must obtain an online gaming license from the West Virginia Gaming and Racing Association. To obtain a license, each casino must submit an application to be reviewed by the agency for approval.

West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of five casinos including one casino resort and four racetracks with slot machines. Many retailers have a few video lottery terminals.

• Gambling Age in West Virginia Much in line with the other states that offer various forms of legal gambling, there are different minimum ages depending on the type of activity being undertaken. In West Virginia, players must be over 18 to participate in the lottery or bingo, or to make pari-mutuel wagers on horse or greyhound races.
• Find out the legal gambling ages in all US States from AL ⇒ WY in our US Gambling Guide. Real Money Casinos Mobile Casinos Menu. West Virginia: 21: 21: 18: 18-18.
• The state of West Virginia is host to a number of land-based gambling facilities ranging from pari-mutuel racetracks to brick and mortar casinos. While these betting facilities are not as expansive as a Las Vegas Casino or an online venue, there are still plenty of opportunities to win upon a horse race, slot machines and even live poker.
• Each state needs to decide for themselves what the legal gambling age is. On this site, we have listed off the legal gambling age for land-based gaming for every state. Generally speaking, so long as you are 21 years or older, you are safe all over the country. There are no states that have a legal gambling age over 21 years old.

The West Virginia state legislature has two sets of minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits depending upon the location of the gaming machine. Limited return statistics are available annually.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Casino Gambling Age In West Virginia

Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in West Virginia*

The minimum legal gambling age in West Virginia depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21

In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery terminals at their thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. In 1999, West Virginia began allowing physical reel slot machines at licensed racetracks.

Machine restrictions at these pari-mutuel wagering facilities include approval by the local county and having only:

• Slots
• Blackjack
• Keno
• Many versions of poker

In 2001, West Virginia passed the Limited Video Lottery Act allowing bars and restaurants to have up to five video lottery terminals (VLTs) and fraternal organizations to have up to ten VLTs. The Act also restricted the state to a total of 9,000 VLTs.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in West Virginia

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in West Virginia.

Gaming Control Board in West Virginia

The West Virginia Lottery Commission controls VLT gaming regulations. This lottery was created in 1984 by amending the Constitution of West Virginia with Article VI, Section 36.

Afterward, West Virginia legalized VLTs with subsequent amendments, acts, rules, and statutes. Each statute is available in the West Virginia Lottery’s Rules and Regulations.

Casinos in West Virginia

There are four pari-mutuel racetracks and one casino resort in West Virginia, where their slot machines have 18 different games. In 2019, 1,303 commercial retailers each had between five and ten VLTs, offering eleven games.

The largest casino in West Virginia is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with 2,500 slot machines.

Legal Gambling Age In West Virginia

The second-largest casino is Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with 1,525 slot machines.

Commercial Casinos in West Virginia

The four pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in West Virginia are:

1. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, 320 miles northeast of Charleston.
2. Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes, 10 miles northwest of Charleston.
3. Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, 35 miles north of Wheeling.
4. Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling.

The single casino resort in West Virginia is:

1. The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, 120 miles southeast of Charleston

Tribal Casinos in West Virginia

West Virginia has no federally-recognized tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying West Virginia slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering West Virginia is:

• North: Maryland Slots and Pennsylvania Slots
• East and South: Virginia Slots
• West: Kentucky Slots and Ohio Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to West Virginia.

Our West Virginia Slots Facebook Group

What Is Gambling Age In West Virginia

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in West Virginia? If so, join our West Virginia slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in West Virginia. Join us!

Payout Returns in West Virginia

West Virginia has two sets of theoretical payout limits including:

• Racetracks and casino resort: 80% and 99.9%
• Commercial retailers: 80% and 92% (or 95%, if approved)

Retailers must obtain individual permissions to have a greater than 92% payout. These high payout terminals must obtain Commission approval twice, including:

Written consent prior to manufacturing
Approval before applying for testing

From its 2019 Annual Report, the Commission reported the annual return statistics in West Virginia to be:

• Casino resort: 92.5%
• Racetracks: 89.6%
• Commercial Retailers: 92.1%

Summary of West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of one casino resort, four racetracks, and 1,303 retailers with VLT-style gaming machines. Retailers may have up to five VLTs if a bar or tavern, and up to ten VLTs if a fraternal organization. Up to 18 different games are available on these VLTs, including slot machine game themes.

The minimum theoretical payout is 80% for all VLTs. The maximum theoretical payout is 99.9% for casinos, but 92% for retailers. With permissions, retailers can obtain a 95% maximum theoretical payout for specific VLT machines.

Annual Progress in West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there has been no change in the West Virginia gaming industry.

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

• Previous: Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
• Next: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC

West Virginia offers several forms of state-sanctioned gambling. Pari-mutuel horse race betting was introduced to the state in 1933. In 1984, the Mountain State established its lottery after following a statewide referendum, and in 1994 another referendum authorized Video Lottery Terminals at the local racetracks.

In 2001, VLTs were also introduced to bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, as well as for fraternal organizations, and in 2007, West Virginia racetracks were allowed to begin offering table games.

West Virginia was also one of the first states that legalized sports betting once the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on this form of gambling in May 2018. The WV Sports Lottery Wagering Act was passed that same month. The first betting license was awarded to Penn National, the company that operates Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The new sportsbook started taking bets on August 18, 2018, and by the end of the year, four out of five of the local casinos were offering legal sports betting.

West Virginia Gambling Law Summary

Gambling in West Virginia is covered by West Virginia Code, Section 61-10. The current regulations prohibit West Virginia residents from taking part in many unlicensed games with real money involved, but the list doesn’t mention games that are played over the internet. As a result, it’s impossible to tell whether this list should be applied to online gambling scenarios. So far, no players have been prosecuted, so no court interpretation could help us shed some light on this issue.

Other gambling-related offenses are covered by West Virginia Code, Chapter 61, Article 10: Crimes Against Public Policy. The minimum gambling age in West Virginia is 18 for lottery games, bingo, and racing, and 21 for sports betting and casino-style games.

Online Gambling in West Virginia

On March 27, 2019, West Virginia legislators passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, which will introduce legal online casino and poker options to the state via the local land-based casinos. This bill will go into effect on June 7, and the regulatory framework for these new forms of gambling is expected to be ready by early 2020.

It’s worth remembering that the new bill does not legalize playing on offshore sites. West Virginia defines gambling as “betting or wagering money or another thing of value on any game of chance or knowingly giving money or something of value for another to bet on any game of chance.” This definition is broad enough to cover all unauthorized internet games. Placing any unlawful bets constitutes a misdemeanor and is punishable by a $5-$100 fine. The offender may also be required to give security for his good behavior for one year.

West Virginia Casinos

West Virginia has five large gambling facilities that offer Video Lottery Terminals and classic table games, such as craps, roulette, blackjack, and casino poker. These facilities are located in White Sulphur Springs (The Casino Club at The Greenbrier), Ranson (Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races), New Cumberland (Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort), Cross Lanes (Mardi Gras West Virginia Casino Resort), and Wheeling (Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack). As mentioned above, VLTs can also be operated by bars (up to five terminals) and fraternity organizations (up to ten terminals). All terminals are required to have an 80%-95% return-to-player games. West Virginia casinos aren’t required to enforce any bet size limits.

West Virginia recently passed an online gambling bill, and the first sites are expected to go online in 2020. Playing on offshore sites will remain illegal and will still be classified as a misdemeanor.

West Virginia Poker

All West Virginia gambling establishments operate live poker rooms, but they do differ in size:

– Mardi Gras Casino West Virginia – 24 tables

– Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races – 16 tables

– Mountaineer Casino – 14 tables

– Wheeling Island Casino – 9 tables

– The Greenbrier – 2 tables

Cash game action is very Hold’ em-centric, with most tables running $1/$2 or $2/$5 No-Limit Hold ’em or $3/$6 Limit Hold ’em. The largest poker rooms host multiple Hold ’em tournaments every week, with the buy-ins ranging from $55 to $135.

West Virginia recently passed an online gambling bill, and the first internet poker rooms are expected to become available in the first half of 2020. Playing on offshore sites is prohibited and is considered a misdemeanor.

West Virginia Sports Betting

Sports betting was legalized in West Virginia in May 2018. Since then, all the local sportsbooks have launched land-based sportsbooks in cooperation with well-established betting companies.

As mentioned above, the first license went to Penn National, the owners of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The online version of this sportsbook was launched in cooperation with William Hill and is known as Hollywood Sportsbook.

The second license went to FanDuel and The Greenbrier. This sportsbook is available online as FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier.

The two Delaware North Casinos, Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, also launched land-based sportsbooks by the end of the year. Still, they were forced to stop taking bets due to a dispute with their service provider. BetLucky, the online platform tied to these gambling establishments, is still online, but its customers won’t be able to deposit or place any bets until the legal problems are resolved.

The Mountaineer Casino Resort was the last West Virginia gambling establishment to launch a land-based sportsbook. Its customers can place bets online via the Mountaineer Sportsbook, which is operated in cooperation with William Hill.

Also, West Virginia residents are free to engage in on-track and off-track horse race betting. This form of gambling is also available online via popular US-facing platforms, such as TVG, XpressBet, and TwinSpires.

West Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports

DFS contests are considered legal in West Virginia. In 2016, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey declared that such games do not meet the state’s threshold of gambling because of the amount of skill required from the players. In 2017, West Virginia lawmakers also introduced a bill designed to clarify the legal status of DFS contests further. The bill designated HB 2751, ended up being passed to the House Judiciary Committee, but no further action was taken.

As it stands, all the popular DFS platforms, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo Sports, are available to West Virginia residents.

West Virginia Lotteries

West Virginia lottery offers the following draw games: Powerball, Lotto America, Mega Millions, Daily 3, Daily 4, Cash 25, and Keno. It also provides scratch games and operates the VLTs which are available across the entire state. All lottery tickets have to be purchased from land-based retailers, as the lottery isn’t authorized to sell tickets online. The official lottery website is for information purposes only.

West Virginia Bingo

Charities and public organizations can host bingo games in West Virginia. Also, commercial bingo is available at the local gambling establishments. Legal internet bingo is currently unavailable, and it’s questionable whether any of the casinos will launch dedicated bingo sites once iGaming goes online in West Virginia. Playing on offshore bingo sites is illegal and constitutes a misdemeanor.

West Virginia Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in WV?

West Virginia is a gambling-friendly state with plenty of options for the local real money gaming enthusiasts. The Mountain State has commercial casinos, and if that wasn’t enough, the local racetracks are allowed to offer casino-style games as well. West Virginia also allows pari-mutuel betting, charitable gambling, and bingo. The state also operates its own lottery and is planning to start selling lottery tickets online in 2015.

What laws cover online gambling in West Virginia?

Playing games of chance for money in land-based gambling establishments is covered rather extensively by Section 61 of the West Virginia code. However, none of the West Virginia regulations apply specifically to online play, which means that there are no laws that could prevent local gambling enthusiasts from using quality offshore gambling platforms, such as Bovada.

Is real money online gambling legal in West Virginia?

Most probably, yes. West Virginia Code doesn’t explicitly prohibit online gambling, and the authorities simply don’t bother with investigating individual players.

Which offshore gambling sites accept West Virginia residents?

West Virginia-based players are free to enjoy all the high-traffic offshore sites, including Bovada poker, casino, and sportsbook.

What are the most popular banking options supported by West Virginia -facing sites?

Unlike the European and Asian sites, most US-facing casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks don’t give you all that many banking options to choose from. In most cases, Visa and MasterCard work best when it comes to making a deposit, while wire transfers are the cheapest way of cashing out.

Does West Virginia offer any intrastate online gambling?

No. There is no legal framework that’d allow the local businesses to launch West Virginia-facing sites. Any site that claims to be licensed and regulated in West Virginia should be treated with caution, as there’s no reason to play on sketchy sites with so many quality services like Bovada around.

Is it likely for West Virginia to regulate online gambling?

West Virginia is currently in the process of introducing new regulations that’d allow online lottery sales. However, it’s impossible to predict whether this will lead to any new iGaming legislation or not.